Commission Decision of 17 October 2005 amending Decision 2005/464/EC on the implementation of survey programmes for avian influenza in poultry and wild birds to be carried out in the Member States (notified under document number C(2005) 3960) (2005/726/EC)

ANNEX U.K.

The Annex to Decision 2005/464/EC is amended as follows:

1.

part D is replaced by the following:

‘D. SURVEY FOR AVIAN INFLUENZA IN WILD BIRDS

In those Member States where surveillance will also involve wild birds the following guidelines shall be followed.

D.1. Survey design and implementation

1. Liaisons with bird conservation/watching institutions and ringing stations will be necessary. Sampling where appropriate shall be carried out by staff from these groups/stations or by hunters.

2. Active surveillance on living or hunted birds shall be targeted on:

(a)

the population of wild bird species presenting a higher risk to be identified, based upon:

(i)

origin and migratory flyways;

(ii)

numbers of wild birds in the Community; and

(iii)

likelihood of contact with domestic poultry;

(b)

identify sites at risk, based upon:

(i)

mixing sites of high number of migratory birds involving different species and in particular those listed in part F;

(ii)

proximity to domestic poultry farms; and

(iii)

location along migratory flyways.

Sampling must take account of the seasonality of migration patterns, which may vary in different Member States and the species of birds listed in Annex F.

3. Passive surveillance on wild birds found dead shall primarily target the occurrence of abnormal mortality or significant disease outbreaks in:

(a)

wild birds species listed in part F and other wild birds living in contact with them; and

(b)

at sites as referred to in point 2(b)(i).

The occurrence of mortality in several species at the same site shall be an additional factor to be considered.

D.2. Sampling procedures

1. Cloacal swabs for virological examination shall be taken. In addition to “first year” birds in autumn, host species with high susceptibility and increased contact with poultry (such as Mallard ducks) may offer the highest chance of success.

2. In addition to cloacal swabs or faeces, tissues, (namely the brain, heart, lung, kidney and intestines from wild birds found dead or shot shall also be sampled for virus isolation and molecular detection (PCR). Molecular techniques shall only be carried out in laboratories able to guarantee quality assurance and using methods recognised by the CRL for avian influenza.

3. Samples shall be taken from different species of free living birds. Waterfowl and shorebirds shall be the main sampling targets.

4. Swabs containing faeces, or carefully collected fresh faeces shall be taken from wild birds trapped, hunted and found freshly dead.

5. Pooling of up to five samples from the same species collected at the same site and same time may be permitted. Specific care has to be taken for the storage and transport of samples. If rapid transport within 48 hours to the laboratory (in transport medium at 4 °Celsius) is not guaranteed, samples shall be stored and then transported in dry ice at – 70 °Celsius.’

2.

the following part F is added:

‘F. LIST OF WILD BIRD SPECIES PRESENTING HIGHER RISK IN RELATION TO AVIAN INFLUENZA(1)

	Latin name	English language name
1.	Anser albifrons	White-fronted goose
2.	Anser fabalis	Bean goose
3.	Anas platyrhynchos	Mallard
4.	Anas strepera	Gadwal
5.	Anas acuta	Northern Pintail
6.	Anas clypeata	Northern Shoveler
7.	Anas Penelope	Eurasian Wigeon
8.	Anas crecca	Common Teal
9.	Anas querquedula	Garganay
10.	Aythya ferina	Common Pochard
11.	Aythya fuligula	Tufted duck
12.	Vanellus vanellus	Northern Lapwing
13.	Philomachus pugnax	Ruff
14.	Larus ribibundus	Black-headed gull
15.	Larus canus	Common gull’

(1)

All naturally occurring wild birds species in the Community, including the the species listed in the table in this part, are covered by the protection regime of Directive 79/409/EEC on the conservation of wild birds and therefore full regard shall be taken of the requirements of this Directive in any surveillance for avian influenza.’